2012/07/29

The civilization goes through a certain path. They start weak and then they grow gradually during hundreds of years until then they reach the peak, the top. For example, the Persians civilization before islam (2000 years of duration until it peaked), the Byzantins and the Romans (1200 years of growth until it peaked) and you see this over and over again.

But what people don't understand is that when a civilsation collapses, it collapses so quickly.

The Persians were the highest in civilisation and competed only with the Romans. Their capital was in Irak. They had the most powerful army in the world. 350 000 people battled in those armies.

How many armies in the world today have these numbers? They had the best fighters and the best equipments in the world. You want to talk about science, art etc? They were the highest of countries when islam started. They were united under one King and it was a huge empire. They excelled in every area of the life. The first attack was in the 12th of Hijrah. One was held by Ali (raa) and the other army attacked the north of Irak. The attacks started in the 12th year of hijrah.

Khalid ibn Walid was a leader when they attacked Irak and then he was ordered to go to Palestine. Another one continued the attack. They faced the Persians under the battle al'Qadisiyya in 15th of Hijra. It took three years before the Persian civilastion collapsed. How could this happen? They were the best in army, techique, art, science, they are politically strong, the highest and so on. What cause that civilazation to collapse?

Another example.

Let us take the Roman civilization. It was the second superpower of the world, military speaking. But they were competeing with the Persians. They had three capitals, Constantinopel which is Istanbul, Jerusalem and al-Quds, Alexandria for northern Africa which controled all AFrica. It was a huge imperial under one leader, Ceasar.

When the prophet sent his messenger Ceasar was i Jerusalem, but normally he was in Istanbul. 340 000 men were in the roman army. We know about the roman politics, philosophy etc. It was a very strong civilisation.

The first attack on the Roman. Four armies with 34 000 men (310 000 less than the Roman empire's armies) were sent by Abukri Sadiq raa. Amr Ibn Al-As was sent to Palestine and Jordan, and Ziad ibno Abi one to Syria, one to Palestine and Libanon and one Muawiya to the northern of Palestine and Syria. They started to move. When Ceasar heard about this he left Jerusalem and went to Damascus and when they came further he left Damascus for Instanbul. He was aware of this new power. He knew. Ceasar was very clever. when he left Syria he said: Good bye Syria forever. So they moved.

340 000 of Ceasars men were sent to battle the Muslims. When the Muslims heard about it they knew that this was a huge danger. Khalid ibn Walid saw that the leaders in Palestine were not United. So he united the four armies and choosed Khalid ibn Walid as the leader, because nobody could lead an arrmy as Khalid. They broke the back of the roman and the rest was so easy. A civilization that were that strong collapsed in two years.

Umar ibn al-Khattab became the director and he said Let me conquer Egypt. This was the 18th year after Hijrah. The number to fighting men were 4 000. He was attacking 1 000 000 in Egypt with only 4 000 them. The armies were already reaching india during this time. This number were applied with 8 000 men. Amongst the 4 000 there are counted as 1 000, so there is 8 000 men. Do we see today men that counts up to 1000. Most of the men don't face up to one.

Egypt was one of the strongest nations in the world AND reign by the Romans. They conquered Egypt, not in years, but in months. What is this? So few conquer so many and so strong civilisations.

The first attack on the Spanish empire was in the year of 9th Hijrah. Led by Tariq ibn Zied who was not an Arab. 92 was the first attack. 95 they finished Spain and Portugal and was only 60 km from Paris one years later. What happened to the French? Why could not they stop them? We are not talking about hundreds of years here. Only two or three at maximum.

Two things!

1. Moral destruction within. They had no morals and were corrupt from inside. They were materialistic, sexual relations, individualism which is very close to our civilisatioin today. But this is not enought for the collapse of the civilasation.

2. A stronger civilisation materialistically or morally is attacking or challenging them. That is why the Mongolians conquered Europe because they were stronger materialistically (not morally). And we see this trend over and over again.

Don't be fouled by the power of the unbelievers. It does not last.

The islamic civilazation!

islam is the only nation that have not been perished. They are still here today.

Islam started in Mecka. A civilization start when you start without a country until you establish it on land. The first years the ideology were developed. There was no political system, social system, judicial system at the beginning. There were only prayer, fasting, zakah and hajj.

So with Hijrah, the lands civilization started in Medina. This was also the start of a state. Even the Qur'an changed. The style from the Meckanian time to the Medina time in the Qur'an changed.

How large was the state? One very small town, Yathrib (today Medina in Saudi-Arabia). Approximately 30 000 lived there with Jews and every one counted.

Year 2 of Hijrah The Battle of Badr .The Muslims in Badr were 314 in numbers. The unbelievers were 950. So they were not larger in number. The whole battle was a very small battle. The battle lasted two hours. Not two days. Two hours. One of the kuffar, who was not from Quraish. He watched it as a movie. His name was Asham. He expected an long Indian movie or something. So he thought for himself: I have never seen a surprise like this. They are running like women.

Five years later he visited Medina. The Prophet saw him and asked hiim his name and if he watched the battle. Didn't you say this and he peace upon him said what the man thought that moment he saw the battle. He was startled as he had never spoken this to anyone. He converted to islam directly on place. Only 17 vwere killed and 17 were wounded less than people that dies today in Irak. And this battle is the greatest of Islam. Why? A small battle in numbers, very short i time and limited in place. They did not conquer Mecka. So why?

It is the battle that divide the good from the evil.

We understand it from one person from Medina. When he one day came back from a battle he said: "Why are you congratulating us. We met some old bold men. That was very simple." That was so easy. The prophet peace be upon him heard saying that and corrected him. "Don't say this, my nephew. We killed the leaders". Only two of the leaders from Quraish were saved. Abu Lahab, the uncle of the Prophet, who did not attend the battle. When he heard the news, he was so angry and sad that he died three days later. Only Abu Sufian who took care of the caravan So after this the political system changed in the Quraish because every member of the Parliament were dead in one shot.

The Muslims were defeated in Uhud. Allah wants to tell them: It is not strength that makes you win, It is when you take the straight path, obediance. This was in 3 of Hijrah.

The battle of Khaybar. On the 5th year the Muslims were helped by the Jews and many more Arab tribes. The army was very strong. 10 000 men at that time was very strong. This is the battle of the ditch or the Anzab, the allies. They was attacked in huge stony places. From the SW from the mountains protected them, in the N the ditch, in the SE the Jews were supposed to help the Muslims.. But they did not keep their promises. They agreed instead with the Quraysh to attack the Muslims from the south. This is when the Muslims were so afraid. It was THE test. You know how many that left? EVeryone of the 10 000 ran away and were left with only 300. Allah made the enemy so afraid that they all ran away.

Was this a strong civilisations with buildings, mosques, art, science, materialstic things? No, nothing. This was not a great civilisation from a materialistic point of view. They did not have a strong army or equipments. What did they have?

It is not the strength that makes them defeat the other. It is obediance to Allah. So in one battle they were very strong. They were many and the enemies so few. For the first time they were 1200 and the enemies were 10 000 and they were defeated. Because they thought they were stronger of their numbers. They forget that they were in the army of Allah. Only 100 men were left with the prophet peace be upon him. The prophet did not left the battle. This is when 100 men from the Muslims defeated 10 000. This was the battle when the Muslims collected the remains.

When I was 17 years old I had a letter from a penpal called Isaac Settor from Ghana, West Africa. He lived in Nkawkaw. I did not remember that I had him as penpal as we did not exchange so many letters. That is why I am now curious about who he is and what it became of him. I think that he is a Christian. The reason for receiving this letter is that I wanted penpals. I don't remember in which paper I sent the request to, perhaps Bamse or another. I really don't remember. "Thank you for your very nice letter that you wrote me. How is your condition of health? I hope everything is making with you smothing by the grace of God Almighty. Now I cannot explane you how much happines I was when I got your nice letter vecause I do not have any penfriend and I hope we would be a very Good penfriend ever and forever, and everlasting. Now let me introduce my self to you: I am Ganaian boy of 17 years of age and I have succesfully completed junior Secondary school, and my hobbies are listing to music, dancin, collecting any kinds of banknotes and exchange of gift. Now something about my family. I have two sister and trhee brothers and my fathers name is mr Stephane and my mothers name is Patience. Please something about my self: i have lovely black hiar and a brightly black and white eyes, I am bout 5 feet tall. Please try to send me a walkman. I would be very much happy. The reson why I am asing you to send med a walkman is that since I have completed Junior Scendery School I ever I am in houses alon and sad because my brothers and my sisters always got o school and my parents also goes to work, so please i beg you kindly send me a walkman to enjoy my self a bit. I you want it back please inform me so that I will send it back to you and your family and hope to hear from you soon. Bye. NB I want to tell you something about my country and Africa in next letter."The sad thing is that I was very suspicious about his request and I did not reply I think and certainly did not send him the walkman. Even today I am suspicious about the request. Why is that? At that time I did not look up Ghana and where it was. I did not know anything about it. I only thought that the black people in Africa were poor, or that they deceived you. Now, when I read the letter, 15 years later, I am very curious about what he became, if he is married and if he has a job, and perhaps too, if he is alive, at all. I know more about Ghana, I love the nature, the environment and the animals. i really want to visit Ghana sometimes. Perhaps somebody knows him. Perhaps not.

Sometimes you wonder whether you are amongst the Hypocrites and not the Muslims? But what is a Hypocrite?

There was a known hypocrite living amongst the people of the prophet Muhammad peace be upon Him. His name was Abdullah ben Ubay ben Salul. He did many harms to the prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. When he was told to do djihad, he refused to, when the people wanted to give saddaqa, charity, he stopped them, when it was too hot he did not want to pray and said it was too warm. When Abdullah ben Ubay ben Salul died his son came to the prophet Muhammad peace be upon him and asked him to do genesa, prayer over the dead person, and implore pardon for him. The prophet knew about his hypocrisy, but his Mercy and heart was filled with compassion and for him it was equal to demand pardon for him and it would take no time, so why not. The prophet Muhammad peace be upon him wanted to do genesa even though Umar ibn al-Khattab, one the closest friends to the prophet, reminded him of Abdullah ben Ubay's mischiefs and hypocrisy. Even though the prophet peace be upon him was reminded he peace be upon him wanted to demand pardon for Abdullah ben Ubay ben Salul. So Allah revealed a verse for him, not to pray over a hypocrite, and another verse. And after the second verse was revealed, while the prophet was doing the genesa, the prophet peace be upon him stopped in the middle of genesa and never did that again to anyone.

"Ibn Umar reported that when Abdullah ben Ubay ben Salul died, his son Abdullah ben Abdullah (ben Ubay) came to Allah's Messenger may peace be upon him and begged him his shirt which he would use as a coffin for his father, /and the Messenger of Allah/ gave him that. Then he begged him to pray the funeral prayer for him. Allah's Messenger may peace be upon him had hardly got up to pray for him when Umar may allah be pleased with him stood up and caught hold of the garment of Allah's Messenger may peace be upon him and said: O Allah's Messenger! Are you going to conduct prayer for this man, whereas Allah the Exalted has forbidden you to pray for him? Thereupon Allah's Messenger has said: 'You may beg pardon for them or you may not beg pardon for them, and even if you beg pardon for them, seventy times"

I am going to add over the seventy. He was a hypocrite and Allah's Messenger may peace be upon him prayed for him, then Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, revealed this verse: "Do not offer prayer for any one of them at all and donot stand upon their graves for (offering prayer over them)"

Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri may allah be pleased with him that during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger may peace be upon him the hypocrites behaved in this way that when Allah's apostle may peace be upon him set out for a battle, they kept themselves behind, and they became happy that they had managed to sit in the house contrary to Allah's Messenger may peace be upon him, and when Allah's Apostle may peace be upon him came back, they put ofrward excuses and took oath and wished that people land them for the deeds which they had not done. It was on this occasion that this verse was revealed: "Think not that those who exult in what they have don, and love to be praised for what they have not done. Think not them to be safe from the chastisement; and for them is a painful chastisement /in the here after/"

During the month of Ramadan, the increase of prayer is significant. The mosques all over the world are filled with worshippers. Some of them pray the whole year too, five times a day and more. Some of them pray only four or five times a day and some of them do not pray at all during the rest part of the year. For the latter ones, Ramadan is like Christmas. Prayer is not something you do all the time, it is only a feast that everybody around you does they think. Some of those who did not pray regurarly repent, but most of them continue to live like they did before. Many Muslims do not have taqwah, fear and love for Allah, in their heart, but they are still Muslims. Those are the people who do not pray, drink alcohol, wear inappropriate clothes etc.

The prayer is a type of worship consisting of specific statements and actions. It is begun by pronouncing the greatness of Allah, and is concluded with salutations of peace. The prayer is the essence of Islam.

To state it simply, prayer must exist, for without it Islam can not stand. The Prophet, upon whom be peace, said, "The head of the matter is Islam, its pillar is the prayer, and the top of its hump is jihad /struggle/ in the way of Allah." It was the first act of worship that was made obligatory by Allah. Its obligation was revealed directly to the Prophet, during his asscension to heaven. Said Anas, "The prayers were made obligatory on the Prophet, upon whom be peace, the night of his ascension to heaven. At first, they were fifty in number, but were reduced several times until they were five. Then it was proclaimed, 'O Muhammad, the order is not changed. These five are (equivalent) to the fifty."

As to the authenticity of the report, it is related by Ahmad, an-Nasa'i and at-Tirmidhi, who said it is sahih.

Every prophet have worshipped Allah, and even Jesus /Eisa/ peace be upon Him prayed every morning and evening and more. He also prayed like the Muslims, with the forehead on the ground.

Okay, I understand why I have to pray and where it comes from, but must I persist in praying?

Salah is the first act that I will be held accountable for. 'Abdullah ibn Qart related that the Messenger of Allah, upon whom be peace, said "The first act that the slave will be accountable for on the Day of Judgement will be prayer. if it is good, then the rest of his acts will be good. And if it is evil, then the rest of his acts will be evil." (Related by at-Tabarani.)

It is the last thing that the Prophet, upon whom be peace, recommended to hos nation before he died saying, "Prayer, prayer and what your right hand possesses." It will be the last thing taken away from the religion. When it perishes, Islam will perish.

The Messenger of Allah, upon whom be peace, said, "If islam were stipped away, piece by piece, people would hold tight to the next one. The first thing taken would be ruling and governance, and the last thing would be prayer." (Related by Ibn Hibban from the hadith of Abu Umamah.) In many verses of the Qur'an, Allah follows up prayer with the remembrance of Allah. "Lo! Worship preserves (one) from lewdness and iniquity, but verily, remembrance of Allah is more important." (al-'Ankabut:45) "He is successful who grows and remembers the name of his Lord, so pray (al-A'la: 14-15; " So Serve Me and establish worship fr My remembrance" (Taha: 14). Sometimes He mentions prayer along with zakah: "Establish prayer and pay zakah" (al-Baqarah: 110). And at times, with patience: "Seek help in patience and prayer" (al-Baqarah: 45), and with Hajj: "So pray unto your Lord and sacrifice" (al-Kauthar: 2); "Say: Lo! My worship and my sacrifice and my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the Worlds. He has no partner. This am I commanded, and I am the first of those who surrender (unto Him)" (al-An'am:162-163). At other times, Allah begins the acts of piety with prayers and ends with them, as in the verses about the ma'arij (ascension to heaven): "Successfull indeed are the believers who are humble in their prayers," and the verses, "And who pay heed to their prayers. These are the heirs who will inherit Paradise. There will they abide" (al-Mu'minun: 1-2, 9-11).

I understand that the prayer is obligatory and it is important to pray. But do I really have to pray ALL the time?

The importance of salah is so great that one is ordered to observe it while travelling or not, while one is safe or in fear: "Be guardians of your prayers, and of the mid-most prayer, and stand up with devotion to Allah. And if you go in fear, then (pray) standing or on horseback. When you are safe, remember Allah, as He has taught you that which (heretofore) you knew not" (al-Baqarah: 238-239). Allah explains how to pray during fear, safety or wartime: "And when you are among them and arrange their prayers for them, let only a party of them stand with (to worship) and let them take their arms. then, when they have performed their prostratios, let them fall to the rear and let another party come to pray with you, and let them take their precautions and arms. They who disbelieve long for you to neglect your arms and your baggage, that they may attack. Is is no sin for you to lay aside your arms, if rain impedes you or if you are sick. but take your precautions. Lo! Allah prepares for the disbelievers shamful punishment /in the here-after/. When you have performed your prayer, remember Allah, standing, sitting and reclining. And when you are in safety, observe your prayer properly. Prayer at fixed hours has been enjoined on the believers" (an-Nisa': 102-103)

Allah also strongly warns those who tamper with their prayers or are heedless. Says Allah in the Qur'an, "Now there has succeeded them a later generation who have ruined their prayers and have followed lusts. But they will meet deception" (Maryam: 59); "Ah, woe unto worshippers /Muslims/ who are heedless of their prayers" (al-Ma'un: 4-5).

Prayer is one of the most important acts in Islam, and thus it requires a special guidance. Ibrahim peace be upon Him asked his Lord to give him descendants who abided by their prayers: "My Lord! Cause me and (some) of my offspring to remain constant i prayer. And O our Lords! Accept my supplication" (Ibrahim: 40)

How can we make the heart softer? It is essential to me, as I am a Muslim to always soften my heart, as much as possible. As I am a woman it is easy to cry, and my tears are good because they are the sign that my heart is alive.

The servant is not afflicted with a punishment greater in severity than the hardening of the heart and its being distant from Allaah. The Fire was created to melt the hardened heart, this heart which is the most distant of hearts from Allaah. If the heart becomes hardened the eye becomes dry [and finds no joy or tranquillity].

There are four matters, when the limits are transgressed with regards to them, which harden the heart: food, sleep, speech and sexual intercourse. A body afflicted by disease does not derive nourishment from food and water and similarly a diseased heart does not benefit from admonishment or exhortation.

Whosoever desires to purify his heart then let him give preference to Allaah over his base desires.

The heart that clings to its base desires is veiled from Allaah in accordance to the strength of its attachment to them. The hearts are the vessels of Allaah upon His earth, hence the most beloved of them to Him are those that are most tender, pure and resistant to deviation.

[A reference to the hadeeth, “Truly, Allaah has vessels from amongst the people of the earth, and the vessels of your Lord are the hearts of his righteous slaves, and the most beloved of them to Him are the softest and most tender ones” and it is hasan. Refer to as-Saheehah (no. 1691)]

The transgressors preoccupied their hearts with the pursuit of this world. If only they had preoccupied them with Allaah and seeking the Hereafter then they would have instead reflected upon the meaning of His Words and His Signs that are witnessed in creation. Their hearts would have returned to their owners (in whose chests they reside) bestowing upon them marvellous wisdom and pearls of benefit.

When the heart is nourished with dhikr, its thirst quenched with contemplation and cleansed from corruption, it shall witness remarkable and wondrous matters and be inspired with wisdom.

Not every individual who is endowed with knowledge and wisdom and dons its robe is from among its people. Rather the People of Knowledge and Wisdom are those who have infused life into their hearts by slaughtering their desires. As for the one who has destroyed his heart and given precedence to his desires then knowledge and wisdom are deprived from his tongue.

The destruction of the heart occurs through possessing a sense of security and negligence. The heart is fortified through fear of Allaah and dhikr. If the heart renounces the pleasures of this world then it will be directed towards pursuing the bliss of the Hereafter and it will be amongst those who call to it. Should the heart become content with the pleasures of this world the bliss of the Hereafter ceases to be pursued.

Yearning for Allaah and meeting Him is like a gentle breeze blowing upon the heart, blowing away the blazing desire for this world. Whosoever causes his heart to settle with his Lord shall find himself in a calm and tranquil condition and whosoever sends it amongst the people shall be disturbed and excessively perturbed. This is because the love of Allaah can never enter the heart which contains love of this world until the camel passes through they eye of a needle.

Therefore the most beloved servant to Allaah is the one who He places in His servitude, who He selects for His Love, who He causes to purify his worship for Him, who dedicates his life to Him, his tongue to His dhikr and his limbs to His service.

The heart becomes sick as the body becomes sick and its cure lies in repentance and seeking protection from evil.

It becomes rusty as a mirror becomes rusty and it is polished through dhikr.

It becomes naked as the body becomes naked and its adornment comes about through taqwaa.

It becomes hungry and thirsty as the body becomes hungry and thirsty and its hunger and thirst is satiated through knowledge, love, reliance, repentance and servitude to Allaah.

l-Fawaa’id [pp. 111-112] of Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, may Allaah have mercy upon him.